Blog #2.13 Visiting INRA Agronomic Research Center

This is the second visit of the UC Merced/USF team to the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)’s Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique Agadir. We met with Professor Rachid Bouharroud, the director. He explained to us that this is a research farm and he and his team are studying different fruits, aromatic herbs, argan trees, and many more.

Research team visit to INRA demonstration farm

We first started the tour with the nursery. The institute was growing grafted and cutting-propagated argan trees in 4 different containers, 7 different substrates, and 3 different shades (20%, 50%, and 80%) at three different timelines (6, 12, and 18 months) to determine the optimal growth. What they found is that 6-month argan trees can be transplanted into the field compared to the average of 18 months. They are still studying the different compositions of the substrate to find the optimal argan growth.

Dr. Bouharroud

Dr. Bouharroud then showed us the citrus farm, where there are many different types of citrus. After the citrus farm, we went to see the argan trees. His team screened over 150 genotypes and determined 7 different types of argan trees, which only one pollinates to grow. The argan trees that we saw were planted in the field were either grafted or cutted from the original tree (to have the same genotype). The argan needs to mature for three years before yielding the first fruit (0.5-1 kg). After that, it may take 5-8 years to produce a higher yield. 

According to Dr. Bouharroud, the argan tree can grow up to 600 years. Nobody knows the oldest tree as it can date back to the 14th or 15th century. The best way to know is to cut down the tree and count the rings, however, cutting the tree is not allowed unless the tree died from natural causes. Before the argan tree provides an economical value, he looked at growing lavender as a side income, due to low turn-over, until the argan is able to bear fruits for profit. On our way back, we saw the cacti farm before concluding the event with a cup of tea and a few snacks.

Overall, we thought the experimental farm was very interesting to observe their research on how to repopulate the argan trees based upon genotypes, method of planting, and the environment (substrate composition, shading, and containers). We’re curious what are the overall environmental impacts of domesticating argan trees if the trees can live up to 600 years, after all it’s a long time. Would this affect the overall environmental impacts of argan oil production? Hopefully we will find out soon.

-By Joliette and Faroz